This is part of a series of team previews for the fall season. Here’s the complete list.
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It was a great summer for the Republic soccer team. But coach Jesus Zuniga knows that doesn’t mean much when matches start on August 25. “I don’t want to be the best team in the summer,” Zuniga said, noting that the Tigers “have to translate what we’ve done and all the things we’ve learned as a team. We have to be the best team in the middle of October, at the end of the year.”
Entering his second season as head coach, finding wins may be easier this year than last year, if only because Zuniga knows his players and they know him.
“We have a relationship. They know how I am. The upperclassmen have already told the freshmen, ‘Hey, these are expectations.’” Zuniga said.
In 2022, Republic had to replace about 80% of its scoring from the previous season. This year, the Tigers return about 90% of their scoring. The returning experience will allow the Tigers to implement a more aggressive style to move the ball up and down the field and “feed our forwards, getting our wings more in the attack,” Zuniga said. “It seems like we’ve implemented a vertical game that we may have struggled with last year. It seems more fluid. They’re willing to get up, they’re willing to drop back, so the transition aspect has looked pretty solid so far.”
While the team returns more varsity experience in the forward two-thirds of the field, the defense lost more players to graduation. Still, Zuniga said he has talented defenders — he just needs to get them in the right positions. He’s already seen some progress in that area among the returning defenders. “They’ve realized that hey, we’ve got to step up now. And they’re understanding their positioning and understanding when to cover for one another.”
As those roles shape up, Zuniga also foresees a bigger role for the back line in transition, pushing the ball forward rather than laying back. “I’ve given them just a few basic rules, and once the season gets started, we will really hit it hard. But it looks like we’ll be better in transition this year than we were last year.”
The defense starts with returning goalkeeper Xavier Ulshafer. He’s the only returning captain from last year’s team, and Zuniga pointed out that he has worked hard away from the team to improve his game. “He’s just focused on having fun this season and being a leader,” Zuniga said.
Will Brock and Mikey Argo return to the defense. Miles Thomas may also contribute on the back line when he isn’t in the midfield. Among returning players, Argo was the team leader in blocks last season. Thomas is the only returning player to start in all 24 matches last season for the Tigers. Elijah Phiri could also float between defense and midfield, and fits into Coach Zuniga’s plan to push the ball forward from the back line. Leighton Perez, a sophomore, has played midfield in the past but volunteered to move to defense if necessary, knowing that it might be a team need. Mason Tackett and Isaac Vermule are both sophomores who may find themselves on defense at times. Zuniga calls Vermule “our utility player as a defensive mid, center back, outside back, wing — and he does well in all of those (positions).”
Senior Brayden Tharp will be a stabilizing influence in the midfield. Zuniga said Tharp is “a huge asset. He does all the little things that he’ll never get stats for, but does it all perfectly for us.”
Diego Zuniga and Santino Stiglianese — Republic’s two top returning goal scorers — will remain on the attack but often will start in the middle of the field, taking advantage of that vertical game the Tigers have focused on. Kleber Perez, another offensive weapon, will join them in the rotation alongside players that include Mason Cole, Caleb Miclea, and Koal Williams, a freshman who had a “phenomenal preseason” according to Zuniga. Senior Cooper Davis, also a cross country runner, “is a team player and willing to play… where the team needs him most.”
Despite a high turnout and heavy competition for starting roles, Zuniga said his players are putting team goals first and have shown willingness to play where they are needed. That attitude will help the Tigers improve on last year’s 5-19 record, and Zuniga said he has high expectations for the season. He sees a commitment to winning more matches among the players, too.
“They feel like they have something to prove this year. It’s not all about wins, but I think the boys have started to realize we have more fun when we win,” Zuniga said.
With another year of experience in Zuniga’s system and a deep roster of talented players, the wins are likely to come more often in 2023.